Fire block setter



Patented July 31s,. E945 mais? UNITED STAT-'E PATENT' 2,380,487 srfnnrtocits'E'r'rEn' ShermauGeorge Ackley, South GaterCaliL ApplicationFetruary '9;. 194z,vsenslfnomzaasa (ci. zii-4) Y i illustrated moreorless diagrammatically set in sciaimsr..

This invention relates toVX ar deviceA for. facilitat ing placing-`il're-blocks between studs ini frame buildings.` Theseilre-blocksiare-short piecesfthat are` setintercostally between the'Astuds, andfare nailed to thestuds bytoenailing. Buildingordinaricessometimes provide for the spaceftobeallowed vertically between thesenre-blocks." They are usually put in place-horizontally, but may bestaggered, that is to say, put in clined position.

One of the objects of this inventionis to provide a device of simpleconstruction, which will provide a support or rest for the nre-blockwhile it is being nailed in position.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a device of this kind,which can if desired, be readily adapted to support the lire-blockeither il? a horizontal position, or in an inclined posi- In itspreferred construction, the device involves the use of two members thatare put in place between two adjacent studs and pressed against theadjacent faces of the studs. These' members at their lower ends, restupon a sill or stringer; or upon a nre-block that has already been putin position. The members are provided with means for forcing themoutwardly to press them against the studs. This means is releasable sothat after the nre-block has been nailed in place.- the device can bereleased and removed. One of the objects of the invention is to, providemeansvfor facilitating the release of the device from under thenre-block; morespeciflcally, to provide a construction vor mounting .forrests ci.

`the upper ends of the members, which will enable them to move outwardlyand free themselves placev in an inplace between the studs initsoperativefposition.. This view illustratesy the device: as employedwhere the 'fire-blocksnare horizontal. s

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2-, but1illustrat ing the manner inwhich the device-'adapts itself for setting staggered or inclinedirezblocks.

Fig. 4 is a Vertical section" ,taken through a ilexible Joint'which Iprefer to employf in constructing the device, certain'parts-being-'broken that in practicing lthe invention, I provide twojuxtaposed members, the upper endsk of which Vconstitute two rests tosupport the nre-block in a position to be nailed. I also provide gaugemeans for enabling these rests to be set at a predetermined level eitherabove a bottom sill or Stringer, or above a fire-block Ythat has alreadybeen putin position.

In its general construction, the device includes jointed means thatconnects two side members,

and this jointed means is so constructed that it fromengagement with theunder side of the block. This facilitates the folding and withdrawal ofthe device from its operative position.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. Y

The invention consists in novel parts and combination of parts to bedescribed-hereinafter,

all of which contribute to producean elcient v nre block setter.

trating its general arrangement'and therelation of its parts. Y v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation theztwo adiant studs set on a strlnser,and'with'tniadevice' can be readily operated to exert apressure thatforces the side members against the studs. The connection is easilyreleasable to enable the members to swing in toward each other, and indoing this the rests at the upper ends of the side mem-V bers, cooperateto facilitate the withdrawal of Y Fig. l is a perspective ofthefdevicaandillusthe side members in spite of the fact that the restsare in contact with the nre-block that has just been nailed in place.

y Referring more particularly to the parts, the device as illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, includes two side members land 2. These sidemembers are associated with gauge means for enabling them to be set inposition so that the upper ends of the side members can aitord a`support for a lire-block 3 to be set in position between two studs 4,as illustrated in` Fig. 2.

` .Any suitable gauging means may be employed, but in the presentinstance for this purpose, I

vprei'erto construct the side members inthe form oz elongated natplatesincluding mainplates I with side flanges 8 to give the samestillness. The uleoftheseilangeswillgivetheseplatelthorequired stinessin spite of the fact that they are made of very light gauge metal. Inorder to give vertical adjustability to the side plates 5, I prefer toprovide each side plate 5 with a gauge plate 1, which is also preferablyprovided with side flanges B which telescope inside of the flanges Ii,and these plates 'I are provided with feet 9 at the lower ends to restupon the sill or Stringer I in the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.They would also rest upon a nre-block that had been already placed togauge the distance up to the next nre-block higher up. In order toenable the gauge to be adjustable, the plates I are formed with slots lain which clamping bolts 1b run. The heads of these bolts are on theoutside, and the outer heads of the bolts are flat curved faces asindicated in Fig. 1.

Between the plates I provide means for holding the members I and 2shoved outwardly against the studs 4, and this means preferably includesa pair of parallel links II attached by hinge pins 'I2 to bracket I3secured on the inner face of one of the plates 5, and the free ends ofthese links have a pin and slot connection with similar links I4 thatare similarly connected to the inner face of the opposite plate 5. Thispin and slot connection as illustrated, includes a pin I5 carried on theend of each link II and running in a slot I6 formed in the correspondinglink I4. In this way two toggle joints I1 are formed, which I connect bya vertical connector bar or link I 8. This link keeps the links IIparallel with each other, and the links I4 parallel with each other,when the toggle jointsv are operated. Associated with this connection Iprovide resilient means for forcing the links I4 outwardly as far astheir slots I6 will permit, to force the member 2 against its adjacentstud 4. For this purpose I provide coil springs I9 located around thelinks II and shoving at their ends against a saddle plate 20 (see Fig.4) which saddle plate seats against the end of the corresponding linkI4. These links I4 are preferably of narrow channel form so as topresent two ilanges 2I that carry the slot I6. In this way a clearancespace or deep slot 22 is formed at the under side of the link I4 toreceive the upper end of the connector bar I 8. This bar projects upinto this space and has an opening enabling it to be attached to one ofthe pins orvaolts I5. These pins or lbolts I5 are provided with wingnuts IBaenabling them to be. clamped up more or lesstosecure them inplace. However, itshould be understood that these bolts are not clampedup so tight as to prevent free movement of the links II in the spacebetween the flanges 2I of the links I4. This construction is clearlyillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

When the device is clamped up as illustrated in Fig. 2, to enable thefire-block to be supported on the upper ends of the side members I and2, it is advantageous to provide means for facilitating freeing of theside members I and 2 from the pressure of the fire-block which has beennailed in piace, and which naturally would be exerting considerablepressure on their upper ends. For this purpose I prefer to providemovable rests 23 at this point. Each of these rests is in the form of aplate that projects upwardly from a hinge connection 24 that attaches itto the upper end of its corresponding plate 5. The upper end of eachrest 23 is bent over to form an inwardly and downwardly projecting ange25, thereby forming a convex upper face which can roll on the under faceof the fire-block 3 as the members l and 2 are pulled inwardly when thejoints I'I are bi-olsen. These Joints preferably break in an upwarddirection, that is, in a substantially vertical direction.

The vertical adjustability of the members I and 2 not only facilitatessetting them to any desired height fo'r the fire-blocks, but thisadjustment also facilitates putting in inclined or staggered fire-blocks26, as illustrated in Fig. 3. It is simply necessary to adjust one ofthe members 2 to a greater length than the other, and in this connectionit should be understood that it is immaterial which side of this deviceis placed outermost when putting the same in position between the studs.This enables the device to be set in place for setting the next adjacentfireblocks 26, which incline in another direction, without making anychanges in the adjustment of the device.

The hinge joint 24 has a coil spring 24a associated with it, whichnormally holds the rest 23 in an upright position, but this spring willpermit the rest 23 to swing back relatively to the members I and 2 when.they are pulled inwardly by breaking the Itoggle joints.

If desired, one of the links I4 may be provided with a projecting flange21 which will operate as a handle for breaking the Itoggle joints, orforcing the links down into their locking position. The toggle joints Ilshould be constructed so that when they are forced down into theirlocking position, the links II and I4 pass slightly beyond their deadcenter position. This prevents any possibility of the force of thespring releasing the toggle joints accidentally.

If desired, the rests 23 may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 6, inwhich each rest 28 is composed of two sections, 28a and 28h, the section28a being hinged to the upper end of the member, and the upper section28h being hinged to it. In this way two joints are formed including anupper joint 29. This joint 29 can be provided with a hook 30 on theinner side, that can be pulled out to break the joint. This pulls downthe upper section 28h of the rest 28, and virtually shortens thememberso rthat; it can be immediately pulled y away from the stud.

Many other embodiments ofthe invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim isf 1. In a device for setting a nre-block between studs ofa wall of a building, the combination of a pair of members adapted torest at their lower ends upon a support and adapted to press against theadjacent faces of the two studs, a toggle connection between saidmembers including toggle links, and resilient means associated therewithand cooperating with the toggle links to exert a pressure through saidmembers against the studs to enable a re-block to be supported on theupper ends of said members and nailed to said studs, said toggleconnection capable of being moved laterally to relieve the pressure onsaid members and permit the same to be withdrawn from below the nailedfire-block,

2. In a device for setting a fire-block between studs of a wall of abuilding, the combination of a pair of members adapted to rest at theirlower ends upon a support and adapted to press against the adjacentfaces of the two studs, rests jointed to the upper ends of said membersand capable of swinging outwardly, a toggle connection between saidmembers with resilient means associated therewith cooperating with thetoggle connection to exert a pressure through said members against thestuds, said toggle connection capable.

of being moved laterally toremove .the pressure on said 'members and topermit the same .to-be withdrawn from contact lwith the studs,- saidjointed rests then operating to swing relatively outwardly of themembers frombelow the nailed nre-block.

and thereby facilitate the withdrawal n v said members, saidtoggle linkshavin a pin and slot connection therebetween, resilient means 3. In adevicefor setting a fire-block betweenl studs or .the like, thecombination of va pair of members to press against the adjacent faces ofthe -two studs, jointed means including toggle links connected to eachother andconnected to the pressure associated with the links forexerting a spreading force upon the links and the members when. the

toggle links are in substantial alignment, with each other for pressingthe members against the studs,-said members voperating to support thefire-block on the uppel ends when nailingv the same to .the studs, saidtoggle links operating when out of alignment witheach other to relievefrom said' members.

SHERMAN GEORGE ACKLEY.

